By Combs H.C.R. No. 19 74R647 BNL-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, On August 18, 1995, Americans will mark the 75th 1-2 anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the 1-3 United States Constitution, the amendment which secured the right 1-4 of female citizens to vote; and 1-5 WHEREAS, This amendment, debated in Congress as House Joint 1-6 Resolution No. 1, was introduced by Representative James Robert 1-7 Mann, a Republican from Illinois; it was proposed to the state 1-8 legislatures by the 66th Congress on June 4, 1919, and was ratified 1-9 by the 2nd Called Session of the 36th Texas Legislature on June 28, 1-10 1919; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Coupled with the earlier Fifteenth Amendment, the 1-12 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment guaranteed that all adult 1-13 citizens, regardless of race or gender, would have equal access to 1-14 the most powerful tool of democracy--the election ballot; and 1-15 WHEREAS, The right to vote is perhaps the most important and 1-16 sacred of American rights, for it is fundamental to our system of 1-17 governance; it gives all citizens an equal voice in government, 1-18 regardless of social stature, income, or family lineage, and 1-19 prevents the tyranny of elites that has proven the downfall of many 1-20 countries; and 1-21 WHEREAS, While nations around the world struggle to build the 1-22 type of stable and inclusive political system that has made the 1-23 United States strong, Americans have enjoyed an unprecedented two 1-24 centuries of peaceful transfers of power; even during times of war 2-1 or domestic unrest, the right of citizens to choose their leaders 2-2 has continued uninterrupted; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Americans owe a great debt of gratitude to the women 2-4 and men who devoted their lives to the struggle for universal 2-5 suffrage in the United States, for in opening up the process of 2-6 democracy to all citizens, they ensured that our nation would live 2-7 up to its promise of freedom and equality for everyone; and 2-8 WHEREAS, It is all too easy for Americans to take for granted 2-9 the blessings of liberty that are our birthright, and so on this 2-10 historic anniversary, it is only fitting that each American reflect 2-11 on the rights that we have and on the responsibilities attendant to 2-12 those rights; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The future of a democratic government rests in the 2-14 hands of the voters, and August 18, 1920--with the pivotal 2-15 ratification of this constitutional amendment by the Tennessee 2-16 General Assembly--marked the first time in American history that 2-17 the future of the country was entrusted to all adult citizens; 2-18 thus, the anniversary of this important date is indeed worthy of 2-19 special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas, 2-21 Regular Session, 1995, hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of 2-22 the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States 2-23 Constitution and the extension of voting rights to all citizens.